Self-closing nozzle for containers



Feb. 23, 1937. G. RICHARDSON SELF CLOSING NOZZLE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 28, 1935 INVENTOR BY 6 .RIGHARDSON {W M ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-CLOSING NOZZLE FOR CONTAINERS Gideon Richardson, Seattle, Wash.

Application December 28, 1935, Serial No. 56,487

4 Claims.

This invention relates to self closing nozzles for collapsible tubes.

In the business of sale and use of tooth paste and other goods of similar consistency, it has been the practice to adopt collapsible tubes with nozzles fixed thereto and with threads, and caps for closing the ends of the nozzles. It has also been designed to use springs to be located within the nozzles for closing the same. These nozzles all have had a predetermined interior diameter for discharging the contents, and the threading has been costly and the caps frequently are lost, thus permitting the hardening of the contents, and the interior springs are difiicult and costly to assemble and their small size assures a weakness, and an early deterioration thereof. Forms have been designed also to provide jaws for discharging the contents but these have been all of integral material with the tubes, thus either the tubes are too stifi to remain collapsed or the jaws too flexible. Resilient jaws also have been planned for attachment, to the tube but all such constructions has been too costly and inefficient with inherent tension, and if ever used, would become crushed in transportation, or rendered useless if dropped, in use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive form of nozzle, which is self closing and easily operated, with no loose parts to get lost, or destroyed.

Further objects are to provide a discharge nozzle for a collapsible tube, provided with oppositely positioned hollow jaws, one of said jaws of the same and integral material as the tube and in fixed relation thereto. The other jaw movable to and from said fixed jaw, and provided with cheek plates slidably positioned over the sides of the fixed jaw, to insure a continuous closure along the sides of said nozzle regardless of the position of the free jaw. Said jaws to be normally compressed in closed position against each other by an elastic band positioned around both of said jaws. Such band is adapted to permit the opening of such jaws to various widths as may be desired for discharging varying amounts of the contents of the tube, and also to serve as a protective covering for the jaws when the tube is transported, or used by the owners.

With these and other objects, as may be hereinafter stated, I have illustratively exemplified my invention by the accompanying drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible tube with the nozzle assembled and attached thereto,

Figure 2 is a front end elevation,

Figure 3 a side elevation with part of the tube broken away and the nozzle and band in section taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 except that only the band is in section,

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 except that the jaws are partly opened, with paste escaping,

Figure 6 shows a conventional view, taken on an angle, with parts of the band and jaws broken away, to disclose the interior, and opening into the tube.

Like characters on the different figures represent like parts. i

A represents a soft flexible tube in the ordinary form for tooth paste and other substances of a similar consistency. B represents the lower section or jaw of the nozzle; this is preferably integral with the front end I of the tube, and rigid therewith. C represents the movable upper section or jaw of the nozzle; this is formed of a separate piece of material but is retained normally in assembled relation over the lower jaw by a resilient band D. The'bottom 8 of the lower jaw is fiat, with sides 9 extending up at right angles therewith, and the front end I0 thereof is bent on a slope upward and outward, to a point opposite the center of the tube. The upper edges ll of said sides slope backward and upward from the front to the rear, and there join with the tube around an outlet 1'. e v

The upper jaw C is quite similarly constructed but in reversed position with flat top l2 and is unaflixed to the tube. It has cheek plates or sides l2 slidably positioned partially down over' the sides of the lower jaw. Its front end l3 slopes outward and downward and normally the front lower edge or lip l4 rests against the lower jaw when closed. The rear end of C is supported on a short horizontal shoulder l5, of the lower jaw, adjoining the tube.

The jaws are retained normally in closed position by an outside resilient band D, preferably of rubber. This band is attached at the top center of the upper jaw by cement IE or any simple means, and indents I! are cut therein at the four rear corners of the jaws. Between the indents the inner edges of the band are turned outward, as ears l8 which are severally attached to the end 1 of the tube by cement I9 or other suitable means. The band maintains in hinged relation the top jaw, in the desired position over the lower jaw, and normally holds the jaws together and the nozzle mouth closed to prevent leakage therefrom. The elasticity of the band permits the jaws to open as shown in Figure 5 when the user compresses the tube.

A supply of paste as E is shown in Figure 5 extruded from between the tips, or lips, of the jaws, caused by pressure on the tube attached. The view shows the lips only slightly parted as by a slight pressure. The operator need only add greater pressure on the tube and the jaws will open to a greater degree. The flow of paste being thus governed at will by the operator, within the limits of the cheek plates over the lower sides. These may be varied as the degree of movement of the jaws is desired.

The surrounding band is preferably formed of a good quality of rubber. Thus assuring proper resiliency and lasting strength for drawing the jaws together. The band is preferably formed to cover the length of the jaws, behind their sloping ends, and is preferably of sufiicient thickness to serve as a soft buffer to prevent injury to the jaws in event of accidental dropping or striking thereof. In some cases the front edges of the band may be projected forward to a position flush with or beyond the tips of the lips as indicated by dotted lines D, Figure 3. Such projection fully assures protection to the lips during transportation, etc., and may be readily cut back by the purchaser to the length desired. The band being afiixed only to the center of the movable jaw, and by the side ears to the tube, leaves the remainder of the band body free to exert a compression or binding force around the two jaws, much greater than any interior springs or resilient jaws, of practical construction, for closing the mouth of the nozzle. It will be understood that the cheek plates with sliding fit over the sides of the lower jaw, prevent any leakage between the same, and that the band prevents the plates from spreading. Said band being attached to the end of the tube, and to the top of upper jaw, prevents the rear end of said jaw from rising, and provides a hinge thereat.

It will also be understood that the degree of slope in the front ends of the jaws may be varied in accordance with the consistency of the material therein. A thick or heavy substance will require a slope of lesser pitch than a thin or semifluid substance, for the easy opening of the jaws, and for the certain closing thereof when the tube is compressed, or released respectively.

Having described my invention I claim as new- 1. A self closing nozzle in collapsible tubes, comprising a lower hollow jaw integral with the tube, and projected from one end thereof, said jaw provided with flat base and upstanding sides and a front end sloped upward and outward from the base, a hollow upper jaw adjustably mounted over the lower jaw, cheek plates extending down from the upper jaw and slidably disposed over the said upstanding side of said lower jaw, the front end of said upper jaw sloped downward and outward, and normally resting against the outer end of said lower jaw, an elastic band wrapped around both jaws, for normally compressing the same in closed relation, and adapted to be stretched when the contents of said tube are compressed, said tube provided with an opening into said jaws for passage of said contents into said jaws.

2. A self closing nozzle for a collapsible tube, comprising two hollow jaws extending from the front end of said tube, with the rear ends of said jaws disposed around an opening from said tube, one of said jaws in fixed relation with the tube, and the other in hinged relation with said tube and with said fixed jaw, side plates on said jaws slidably mounted one over the other to prevent escape of material from said tube between said plates, an elastic band afiixed to said movable jaw and to said tube, and wrapped around both jaws, to normally retain said jaws in closed. relation with each other, and to protect said jaws from injury, said jaws further adapted to be opened apart at their points in varying degrees according to the degree of pressure upon said tube.

3. A discharge nozzle for collapsible tubes, comprising a pair of jaws mounted around an aperture in one end of said tube, one of said jaws in fixed relation with said tube, and the other in i movable relation therewith, an elastic band affixed to said movable jaw, and aflixed to the front end of said tube for retaining said jaw and tube in juxtaposition and for a hinge to facilitate the opening and closing of said jaw, said band further wrapped around the outside of both of said jaws for normally retaining the same in closed relation, and adapted to be stretched to varying degrees for the opening of said jaws.

4. A closure for collapsible tubes, comprising a plurality of jaws extending from the tube, one of said jaws affixed to said tube, and the other jaw mounted in hinged and movable relation with said fixed jaw, a rubber tube mounted outside and enclosing both of said jaws, and. adapt ed to be expanded to various widths when the tube is compressed, and to resist opening movement of said jaws in the absence of expressing pressure on said tube.

GIDEON RICHARDSON. 

